Monday, July 14 2008

Hystericalady victorious in Delaware Handicap

Hystericalady won the 71st renewal of the $1million Grade II Delaware Handicap today. With Garrett Gomez in the irons, the 5-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor won by 4-lengths and covered the mile and a quarter in 2:02.37. Lemon Drop Mom, with Jose Caraballo, ran second and it was another ¾-lengths farther back to the 2-to-1 favorite Unbridled Belle with Ramon Dominguez. Hystericalady returned $7.00 as the third choice in the field of eight. The Kentucky-bred raised her career record to ten wins from 20 starts with earnings of $2,110,556.

Saturday, July 12 2008

DELAWARE OAKS, ROBERT G. DICK, RRM CARPENTER JR. RECAPS

Proud Spell bounces back to score Delaware Oaks victory

Brereton Jones' Proud Spell wore down her rivals in the final furlong and won the $500,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park today. Ridden by Gabriel Saez, the daughter of Proud Citizen won by ¾-lengths and covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.34 over a fast main track. The Kentucky-bred trained by the leading Delaware Park trainer J. Larry Jones returned $2.60 as the favorite in the field of six. African Violet, with Cornelio Velasquez, ran second and it was another 2-lengths farther back to Shes All Eltish, with Eddie Castro, in third. Maren's Meadow, with Mario Pino, set early fractions of :48.53 for the half mile and 1:11.95 for the three quarters mile before fading into fifth place.

Wednesday, July 09 2008

Roman Emperor going for Barbaro double

Puglisi Stables and Steve Klesaris' Roman Emperor, the recent winner of the Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico, will look to capture the Delaware Park version of the Barbaro Stakes this Sunday. The mile and a sixteenth $300,000 Grade III affair for 3-year-olds has attracted a field of six. Approximate post time for the Barbaro Stakes is 5:13 p.m.

In his last, Roman Emperor posted a half length triumph in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico on May 17. Previously the Kentucky-bred trained by Steve Klesaris ran seventh in the mile and an eighth $750,000 Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5.

DELAWARE PARK ANNOUNCES 2008 WALL OF FAME CLASS

Wilmington, Delaware. Delaware Park Racetrack, and Slots announced today the selection of five deserving inductees into the Delaware Park Wall of Fame.

The class of 2008 consists of Damascus, Virgil "Buddy" Raines, Chris McCarron, Foxcatcher Farms and R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. These inductees were selected by a panel of Delaware Park executives. An inductee was chosen from each of the following categories: horse, trainer, jockey, owner, and non-participant, respectively with only one nominee from each category elected.

Unbridled Belle tops Delaware Handicap

The defending champion, Team Valor Stable's Unbridled Belle tops a field of eleven entered in the 71st renewal of the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap this Sunday. For the first time, the mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Classic on October 24.

Last year, Unbridled Belle won the Delaware Handicap by 7 ¾-lengths, which was the largest margin of victory since the distance was extended to a mile and a quarter in 1951. The 5-year-old daughter of Broken Vow followed by running second in the Grade I Personal Ensign at Saratoga, winning the Grade I Beldame at Belmont and then closing her 2007 campaign with by running fifth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. In her only outing this year, the Kentucky-bred trained by Todd Pletcher won the mile and an eighth $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 14. Her career record is six wins, three seconds and a third from 15 starts with earnings of $1,359,340.

Tuesday, July 08 2008

DELAWARE HANDICAP FESTIVAL OF RACING NOTES

Brereton Jones' Proud Spell, the winner of the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, was a surprise entrant into the mile and a sixteenth $500,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks this Saturday. If she runs, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Proud Citizen tops a field of eight entered in the Oaks. The approximate post time for the race is 4:02 p.m.

"She has healed very nicely from her lacerations," said trainer J. Larry Jones. "We backed off on her training regiment and went light with her. What appeared to be bad luck has actually turned into good luck for us. She has progressed to the point where we feel comfortable entering her in this spot and there is a good chance we will run her."

Sunday, July 06 2008

Ginger Punch gets top weight in the Delaware Handicap

Stronach Stables' Ginger Punch received top weight of 124 pounds for the 71st renewal of the $1,000,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap to be run on Sunday, July 13. For the first time, he mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Classic to be run on October 24.

Defending Delaware Handicap champion, Team Valor Stable's Unbridled Belle, received second high weight of 122 pounds.

Saturday, July 05 2008

California shipper Santa Teresita looking for answers in Delawar

Some questions should be answered about California shipper Santa Teresita when she runs in the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 13. For the first time, the mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Breeders' Cup Classic on October 24.

Santa Teresita has raced exclusively in California on artificial surfaces and she has never been further then a mile and a sixteenth. The 4-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has a career record of three wins, three seconds and a third from eight starts with earnings of $183,130. In her last effort, the Kentucky-bred trained by Eric Guillot finished second beaten 2 ½-lengths against Zenyatta in the mile and a sixteenth $175,000 Grade II Milady Handicap at Hollywood. Previously, she ran second beaten ¾-lengths to Tough Tiz's Sis in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Grade III Hawthorne Handicap at Hollywood.

DELAWARE HANDICAP FESTIVAL OF RACING

Kathleens Reel could be peaking in time for Del 'Cap engagement

Eagle Valley Farm's Kathleens Reel could be peaking at the perfect time for her engagement in the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 13. For the first time, the mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Breeders' Cup Classic on October 24.

Kathleens Reel is still seeking her first victory this year, but the 4-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has had solid performances. In her last, the Kentucky-bred trained by Ray Sibille ran third in the mile and an eighth $300,000 Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 14. Previously, she finished third in the mile and an eighth $200,000 Grade III Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne on April 19. This year, she has a second three thirds from five starts. Her career record is five wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $192,410.

Cash’s Girl takes Sweet & Sassy Stakes

Cash is King's Cash's Girl won the $100,000 Sweet & Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park today.

Ridden by Pablo Morales, the 4-year-old daughter of Northern Afleet won by a head over and returned $10.60 as third choice in the field of six. Your Flame in Me, with Mario Pino, ran second 5-lengths in front of Intentional Fever, with A.R. Napravnik, in third. The even money favorite, Hungarian Boatbaby with Ramon Dominguez astride, finished fourth.

Cash's Girl covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:10.58. The Florida-bred trained by Tim Ritchey raised her career record to six wins, a second and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $277,492. She is a perfect three-for-three at Delaware Park

Thursday, July 03 2008

2005 Delaware Handicap led to big things for trainer J. Larry Jones

In 2005, trainer J. Larry Jones ran one horse at Delaware Park. The horse was Island Sand, who won the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap. Jones, a 51-year-old native Hopkinsville, Kentucky, liked what he saw of Delaware Park so much he decided to bring all of his horses to Delaware Park the following year. Moving his operation to Delaware Park eventually led to the opportunity to train Hard Spun, who ran second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and Eight Belles, who ran second in the Kentucky Derby this year.

"The Delaware Handicap was my first million dollar win, of course, it has also been my last million dollar win," said a chuckling J. Larry Jones. "It may be the only race worth a million dollars I get to win, so we better start running in the race every year. Seriously, the Delaware Handicap is what brought me to Delaware. We liked what we saw and decided to comeback. No telling who it may bring this year, so who knows may be we will get another trainer in here and then move some horses the following year. In 2005, I brought Island Sand to Delaware Park trying to avoid some horse out of New York where we had been running her. Little did I know that was going to turn my whole career and future around was coming in for that race and then deciding to make this home. So, it has been good to me."

Unbridled Belle takes run at Delaware Handicap history

Horse, jockey and trainer will be looking to make history when Unbridled Belle defends her Delaware Handicap championship on Sunday, July 13. For the first time, the $1 million Grade II affair has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Breeders' Cup Classic on October 24.

Unbridled Belle, ridden by Ramon Dominguez and trained by Todd Pletcher, will be attempting to become the fifth repeat winner and the sixth double winner of the Delaware Handicap. The repeat winners of the mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares are Endine (1958 and 1959), Obeah (1969 and 1970), Blessing Angelica (1971 and 1972) and Nastique (1988 and 1989). Susan's Girl won the race in 1973 and 1975.